Common Law Lawyers Challenge Justice Minister To a Television Debate, Announce imminent Split In The Bar

                                                         Common Lawyers on Strike

Common Law lawyers have announced an eminent creation of a Cameroon Common Law Bar Association and have challenged Justice Minister to a Television debate on the relevance of  their action for the benefit of the nation and international community and should he fail to open up to dialogue and continue to misadvise and misdirect government over their issue, Lawyers advice on his dismissal as minister of justice who is incompetent to manage conflict.  Common Law Lawyers met under the banner of the four common law lawyers Association in Bamenda on October 28^th for joint conference and arrived at some resolution considering previous resolutions arrive in the confab of May 9, 2015 in Bamenda, Buea declaration of February 13 2016 and those of October  6^th to the 15^th of 2016.

The men of letters within the common law jurisdiction have reiterate their demand from government and resolved to continue the strike indefinitely until demands are met. And that should the government continue to ignore their plight and  demands, the Lawyers would woe the wider community of stakeholders to join them and a diplomatic offensive would unfold with communication to  various Cameroon missions, African Union and United Nations. As a matter of urgency and necessity the Constitutional court President would from the date of issuance reminded of the enrolment of communiqué number 712 dated July 12, 2016 which is pending enrolment at the constitutional court.

The lawyers also condemned all forms of intimidations and political alchemists recruited to terrorize them in their legally grounded and legitimate cause to restore the security of the common law and the environment that best assures the sustainability of the security. Lawyers express their disappointment over the General assembly President’s call for lawyers to stop the strike on the face government intransigence. Lawyers shall continue to sensitize the public on the common law issues until the right thing is done as it is practice in Rwanda and Canada.  

The lawyers thanked the civil society organizations operating within the common law jurisdiction for their relentless support in this critical period with assurance of continuous support and collaboration. The lawyers applauded their civil law colleagues who gave their word in support. The lawyers called on all political parties operating within the common law jurisdictions of the North West and South West and representatives at the Parliament, Senate to live up to expectation by joining them in this call for constitutional conference through which a solid foundation would be laid for the coexistence of both the common law and the civil law in Cameroon.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor  Bala, President of FAKLA, Barrister Bobga Harmony President of NOWELA, Barrister Eyambe Ebai, President of MELA and Barrister Ntulabane John Ntui, Vice President of MALA.

By Ignatius Nji